UMKC released its 2005-2006 men’s basketball schedule and it will feature one of the toughest non-conference slates they’ve ever had. The ‘Roos, which had one of their most successful seasons in 2004-2005, will take on Missouri in Columbia (Nov. 29), Penn St. at State College, Pa. (Dec. 7), Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Ia. (Dec. 10) and Wichita St. at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City (Dec. 17),

Last season, UMKC started the season with a seven-game losing streak before reeling off 11 straight wins. They finished 16-12 and 12-4 in the Mid-Continent Conference, which was good enough for second place. The ‘Roos made it to the conference tournament championship game before losing an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament with a 67-63 defeat to Oakland.